The US embassy said it had deep concern about the manner
in which representatives of political organisations and lawyers for human
rights were treated by police.

The police blockade of the restaurant took place on 12
April 2013 and was intended to mark the 40th anniversary of the Royal Decree in
1973 by King Sobhuza II that tore up the constitution and allowed the king to introduce
any law he wished and to change existing ones.

The decree has never been rescinded and his son, Mswati
III today rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

The US embassy said it was, ‘[C]oncerned that a group of
people were prevented from entering a restaurant, where they had planned to
hold their meeting and were forcibly removed from the premises by police’.

The statement added that the 2005 Swaziland Constitution guaranteed
freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

It further said Swazi security forces had a duty to
protect the rights of citizens to, ‘communicate ideas and information without
interference’.

This is not the first time the US embassy in Swaziland
has criticised the Swaziland ruling regime. Exactly a year ago in April 2012
it said, ‘We urge the Swazi government to take the necessary steps to ensure
the promotion and protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of all
Swazi citizens as outlined in the Swazi constitution, including freedom of
conscience, of expression, of peaceful assembly and association, and of
movement.’

The statement went on, ‘The United States government is
deeply concerned about increasing infringements on freedom of assembly, as
evidenced by the recent actions taken by Swazi security forces to prevent
peaceful citizens from gathering for a prayer
meeting on Saturday, April 14 in Manzini as well as reports
of those same forces preventing people from gathering in groups of more
than two people in Manzini and Mbabane on April 11 and 12.’

Reacting to the US criticism in 2012, Percy Simelane, the
Swazi Government spokesperson said there were no restrictions in Swaziland.
‘There is no one who has been silenced.